By George Palmer-Soady
A date has been set for when experts will review the circumstances surrounding the body of a man found dead in Notts 50 years after he went missing.
Last year, the body of Alfred Swinscoe was found in Sutton in Ashfield farmland – decades after he disappeared in 1967.
The mystery continues into how he died, with a date now set for an inquest exploring the cause of his death.
Nottinghamshire Police launched a new appeal in August this year after the 54-year-old miner was found buried in a field in April last year.
The father-of-six was believed to have been murdered and then buried in a six-foot-deep grave after going to the toilet at the Miners Arms pub in Pinxton, Derbyshire, 57 years ago.
Alfred’s remains – found by a local farmer – showed signs of a stab injury, blunt trauma and a broken hand.
Notts Police recently took witness statements and identified two potential murder suspects, however both are no longer alive.
Now, as the mystery continues, a date has been set for the continuation of an inquest into Mr Swinscoe’s death.
First opened on August 21, the hearing will be heard by coroner Nathanael Hartley at Nottingham Council House on November 18 at 10am.
Alfred – known to friends and family by the nickname ‘Sparrow’ – worked at Langton Colliery from the age of 14 and was last seen at work on January 27, 1967.
Four of his six children are still alive and he has several grandchildren. It is believed he was drinking with his two sons on the night of his disappearance.
He was last spotted at around 10.30pm that evening when he gave his son some change to buy a round and then popped to the toilet – but never returned.
Notts Police previously said the family have been updated throughout the investigation.
“Alfred died in the most horrendous way imaginable,” says Rob Griffin, the force’s Assistant Chief Constable.
“Not only did he suffer violent injuries, but he was then buried in a field so that no one would find him.
“What makes this crime even more distressing is that it has taken more than 50 years for his remains to be found and for his family to be reunited with their loved one so he can have a proper burial.
“Of course, there will be little relief for his family as there are still so many unanswered questions of what happened that night and the motive behind his murder.
“Many of the people who would have been with Alfred that night, or knew Alfred, are no longer alive and we may never get the full picture of what occurred in January 1967.”
Mr Swinscoe was eventually buried alongside his son Gary at a cemetery in Sutton-in-Ashfield in January 2024.
